Bikes are expensive, batteries are expensive and motors are expensive. Combine these things and it’s easy to see why there aren’t too many e-bikes out there for under £1,000. There are a few knocking about though – and if you’re happy with a chunky folder, you even get a choice!
We’ve done pretty well getting to the second paragraph of this article without mentioning compromises or trade-offs. That’s the nature of electric bikes at this price – something’s got to give. It might be the motor, it might be battery capacity, or it might be some of the other bike componentry, like the gears or brakes. The truth is, it’ll probably be several of these things to a greater or lesser degree.
What you don’t want is a bike that’s badly put-together – particularly as there’s a greater likelihood you’ll be buying directly from the brand without a local dealership to return to should something go awry. With that in mind, we can reassure you that all of the bikes in the list below have been thoroughly tested by members of our team. Here’s a bit more information about how we review e-bikes, if you’d like to know more.
Don’t economise too much
When you’re reluctant to spend too much and no option seems perfect, there’s a temptation to go for the cheapest e-bike you can find. We’d strongly advise against this because you might inadvertently enter the realm of manufacturing corner-cutting and this is not a place you want to be with a potentially combustible device.
We’d instead argue the exact opposite: try to spend a bit more. If you can increase your budget even a little above this article’s £1,000 ceiling, you may be able to find an electric bike that has an awful lot more going for it. As just one example, the Tenways CGO600 is a simple, affordable, high performance, low maintenance single-speed which is currently available for £1,149. I’ll come back to that one.
Before then, here’s a slightly samey list of e-bikes that do sell for under £1,000.
Who likes folding e-bikes with 20in wheels!? (Scroll past them for a couple of alternatives.)
Engwe P20 – £899
The Engwe P20 is a single-speed, belt-drive folder with interesting styling and hydraulic brakes. The small 250W rear hub motor is smooth, responsive and quiet, while the torque-sensing pedal assist delivers a natural riding sensation, akin to having a strong tailwind.
With just the one gear, there’s obviously a trade-off between low speed climbing and riding at higher speed on the flat. The motor’s lively, but it doesn’t like steep hills, while your pedalling will spin out not much above the 15.5mph motor assistance limit.
If you’re after a cheap, low-maintenance folder for daily commuting, the Engwe P20 is well worth considering.
Read our review of the Engwe P20
ADO Air 20 – £899
A single-speed, belt-drive folder for £899, you say? Here’s another one.
On paper, the specification is very similar – a 345Wh battery, a belt drive and a torque sensor. The weight is also the same at 18.5kg.
A visible difference is that this time the battery is in an oversized seatpost with a coiled cable running down the back. A less visible one is the motor performance. The Air 20 is decent on a false flat or shallow gradient, but output withers a bit on anything steeper. That may or may not be a big issue for you and it’s worth saying that the single gear is about right if you’re mostly just knocking about on the flat.
Read our review of the ADO Air 20
Hitway BK6S – £749.99
.jpg)
But perhaps you need gears. And perhaps you’d also like your bike’s name to look like a mistyped fragment of postcode.
Hitway is a popular Chinese brand that sells a range of budget e-bikes. For £750, the BK6S gives you a decent specification for the money: a foldable step-through frame, lights, mudguards, a 250W motor and a respectably-sized 432Wh battery. (There’s also a padded seat that honestly isn’t that much use for passengers.)
For a folder, it’s heavy; the ride can be kind of harsh; and it struggles on steep hills. However, you may well be able to overlook these shortcomings if you’re looking for simple, cheap transport.
Read our review of the Hitway BK6S
B’Twin Elops 900e – £999
Buy the B’Twin Elops 900e from Decathlon for £999
The B’Twin Elops 900e is a decent e-bike that’ll get you around with a minimum of fuss. At £999, it’s keenly priced, which is one of the big benefits of a company with the buying power of Decathlon.
It doesn’t have the most powerful motor and the rear rack battery position looks a little dated now, but you do get solid versions of a lot of basic componentry on a bike from a well-known brand (Decathlon, that is – B’Twin is just one of their cycling sub-brands.) Like several of the other bikes on this list, if it suits your local terrain, the Elops 900e is a solid buy.
Read our review of the B’Twin Elops 900e
Eskute Netuno – £699
Buy the Eskute Netuno for £699
We concluded that the Eskute Netuno offered decent value for money back when it cost £1,299. At the time of writing, it’s available for £699.
We’ll be honest: it’s not the greatest e-bike in the world. Power delivery isn’t the most responsive to stop-start pedalling and the stretched-out riding position means it may not be for smaller riders, but it certainly packs a punch for its current price tag. You get a solid rear hub motor, a 522Wh battery, lights and Shimano gears.
Read our review of the Eskute Netuno
Alternatively, if you’re feeling flush… Tenways CGO600 – £1,149
Buy the Tenways CGO600 for £1,149
Tenways have since added Pro and Plus versions of this e-bike, but for those on a tighter budget, the original is definitely worth considering at its current discounted price.
If you can get away with a single-speed, it offers a marked step up in performance from the other bikes in this list. The Mivice M070 motor, allied with a double sided torque sensor, delivers incredibly natural-feeling assistance.
While the 250Wh battery is modestly-sized, that does help keep its weight down to an impressively svelte 16kg. The single gear also allows for the inclusion of an easy-to-maintain belt drive instead of a chain.
